Study Abroad Program

Study Abroad Program

The Coastline Study Abroad program is focused on opening up opportunities for students to experience different parts of the world and to attain a quality education in the process.

2014 – Rome

Want to earn six units of transferable college credit while studying Drawing and Digital Photography? Have you considered what it might be like to study these things in Rome? If this is something you would like to be a part of, consider Study Abroad 2014 – Rome.

Study Abroad Archive

Study Abroad FAQ

Welcome to Coastline Community College's Study Abroad Web site! We know you're curious about what programs are offered, so to help satisfy that curiosity, we hope you'll take a few moments to read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and take a look at the links to Web pages we've rounded up.

You are welcome to contact us should you have additional questions not answered below. If you need additional information about a covered topic, please contact Kevin Donahue, at kdonahue@coastline.edu. Indicate the number assigned to the topic. You may expect a response within three working days.

The answers to these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are not meant to be comprehensive. Rest assured that Coastline and the service provider would give you complete information, as some answers are program-specific.

The Coast Community College District is a member of CCIE (California Colleges for International Education). Information about various scholarship opportunities may be found at CCIE's scholarships and grants page (http://ccieworld.org/grants.htm#6).

Allabroad.us - in addition to scholarships, this site offers tips on studying overseas.

Additional financial assistance may be available to Study Abroad students through the American Opportunity Credit (IRS Web site).

Please consult with your tax preparer or certified public accountant; do not contact Coastline's Financial Aid office for information about the credit.

You will most definitely need a passport, and you will need it at least nine months before departure as the service provider will normally request the passport number or a photocopy of the first two pages.

Visas are normally needed under one or both of these situations: (1) if you are planning to remain in one country longer than 90 days; (2) if your citizenship requires a visa from the host country or countries.

Visas may be required for certain countries that in the past did not require visas for American citizens participating on short-term (e.g., summer) programs. The specific service provider will also assist you in determining if a visa is needed, and if so, which kind.

Please note that processing times for passports and visas has been seriously delayed, to the point of six months. For additional information, see the U.S. Department of State Passports page (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html).

If you are obtaining a new passport or renewing a current passport, you will need photos. Some service providers will need photos.

The type, and quality, of accommodations vary from program to program. For instance, some programs place students in hotels for the entire program. Other programs are arranged where you would be living with other students in an apartment, with some overnight hotel stays. Currently, there are no programs offered where you would stay with a family.

Some programs offer you the opportunity to request, and pay an additional amount, for a single room. Such rooms are normally based on availability, and are not guaranteed.

The amount of the deposit (or first payment) varies. It may be as little as $95 or as much as $1,000. Generally speaking, the deposit/first payment is due immediately and is submitted along with the program application. Please note that, depending on the service provider, the deposit/first payment might not be refunded should you cancel.

About four months prior to the departure date. However, don't be afraid to ask about getting into a program at the last minute; there may yet be available spaces. Note that full and complete payment would be due immediately.

If you took Anthropology 100 and French 180, they will show on your records as just that, with the grades you earned. It would be exactly the same as if you had taken the courses on-site or through Distance Learning.

However, this is an excellent opportunity for you to indicate that you took these two classes as part of a Study Abroad program on your essay application to a four-year university or on a job résumé. Keep in mind that many employers prefer people who are willing to "think outside the box" and take chances; having participated on a Study Abroad program is often a good example of such thinking.

All Coastline Study Abroad programs are open to anyone who is eligible to be accepted to a California community college. You do not need to be a current student at any of the three colleges within the Coast Community College District.

Unlike many four-year or private institutions, Coastline does not have an application/essay/interview/minimum GPA/minimum number of earned credits process specifically for study abroad programs. It's easy - you apply, you're accepted on a first come, first served basis pending available space.

Some of the clearest reasons are that you would be enrolling in Coastline courses taught by Coastline faculty. This not only means that you are paying the current per unit enrollment fee, but that you don't need to worry about hassles with your courses transferring to an American four-year university. Another reason is that you may already be familiar with the Coastline faculty who are conducting the program, such as from an on-site or Distance Learning class. Should you qualify for financial aid, the award process is easy and stress-free.

Except for foreign language courses which may have prerequisites, no. As far as being concerned about communicating with people in another country, we suggest that you at least learn the basics such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and sorry/excuse me/pardon me. Unless otherwise stated, all classes are taught in English.

You may want to consider how much money you spend here, at home. Do you eat at restaurants many times per week? What about shopping? Take a look at your monthly budget, and use that as a guide.

Also be aware that accessing your money while overseas may be a bit different than what you are used to. Consult with your financial institution about having an ATM card with a four-digit PIN (personal identification number). You may want to also bring a credit card. We suggest you notify your financial institution and/or issuing credit card company that you'll be using their card(s) overseas. Try to stash away about US$100 so that when you get back to the United States, you'll have some cash for cab fare, lunch, etc.

Feedback from previous students who have participated on our programs indicates that traveler's cheques are not widely used, or accepted.

Generally speaking, you'll have access to the Internet at cybercafés to check your e-mail. But the questions are, will you have time and will you want to? As far as cell phones, renting a cell phone overseas is very reasonably priced. An alternative to this is to contact your current cell phone company.

What Coastline calls "preview" or "get the scoop" meetings are your opportunities to meet the faculty conducting the program and to meet others who may go on the program. You are strongly encouraged to ask questions and to confirm that a program is right for you. Virtually all of the programs have a high number of hours spent walking; walking up and down stairs, walking on cobblestone streets and sidewalks, and walking when it's warm or even hot.

You are encouraged, but not required, to attend a meeting. Most programs offer these meetings throughout the year. You are welcome at all of them, but attending at least one meeting is suggested.

You have a couple of options. If you haven't already, please check the program-specific links at Upcoming Programs. If that doesn't help, please contact Kevin Donahue, at kdonahue@coastline.edu. If you have questions that are specifically about the courses offered, such as what will be taught, required textbooks or supplies, etc., you are welcome to contact the faculty via their respective e-mail addresses which are indicated on each program's information page.

There are numerous resources at your fingertips in regard to traveling. Many bookstores, both online and "brick and mortar," offer an astonishing array of books and magazines devoted to traveling. Should you wish to narrow down your research, the keywords "study abroad" should help.

Programs vary in price, ranging from $3,300 to $5,000. Some factors that may affect pricing are the number of people going (the more people, the cheaper it is per person), the time of year (off-season or high-season), the location (some countries are cheaper than others), the quality of accommodations (students living with other students in apartments tends to be cheaper than staying in hotels), and the length of the program (the longer the program, the cheaper it is on a per-day basis). Another factor is whether or not airfare is included in the program price. Lastly, the exchange rate is a big determinant.

This varies by program, but generally speaking, fees associated with obtaining a passport and/or visa, personal expenses (food, clothing, etc.), tips, and porterage are not included. Depending on the program, airfare might not be included.

Program fees do not include the per unit enrollment fee, and other nominal fees.

You may want to consult with your primary care physician, and your dentist, at least six months before departure. Your doctor may advise you about vaccinations based on where and when you're going. If you need dental work, it's far more pleasant to have this work done by someone you're already familiar with. Plus, you won't need to worry about being inconvenienced when you're overseas. Having said that, you may want to also look at the Center for Disease Control's and the World Health Organization's websites. (See below.)

Travel insurance includes all types of coverage pertaining to travel such as: trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical evacuation, health coverage while abroad, baggage insurance, repatriation, bankruptcy of providers, cancellation due to jury duty/subpoena and catastrophic events (such as, but not limited to, damage to owned home or business, death in family, serious illness of next of kin, etc.)

Coastline Community College, as part of the Coast Community College District, offers the following information about travel insurance. If you are considering purchasing this optional and additional insurance, we ask that you review the following bulleted points:

The Coast Community College District ("Coast District") is only making recommendations to you, as a student participating on a Study Abroad program, that you consider buying travel insurance. As such, the cost of this insurance is over and above program fees, enrollment fees, etc.

The Coast District is not responsible for whichever company (and the performance thereof) you choose.

You may need to purchase travel insurance within 14 days of paying the deposit.

Travel insurance may already be part of the program fees.Purchasing additional/different insurance is your decision

Travel insurance may be offered by the program's service provider for an additional and optional fee.

Travel insurance may not be applicable in certain situations. One example is in regard to airfare. If you are unable to go on a program at the last moment, generally those non-refundable tickets (based on fare basis) may be used at some point in the future. As a result, there wouldn't be any compensation from the insurance company.

Aspects of the District-required medical insurance may be duplicated within the travel insurance policy. As a result, you are advised that you don't need to pay twice for the same coverage.

The Coast Community College District does not discriminate unlawfully in providing educational or employment opportunities to any person on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Coast Community College District Program Policy

The Coast Community College District reserves the right to cancel, change, append, add, or delete Programs or features of Programs. Dates, prices, locations, and other details indicated on this preliminary information page may not accurately reflect the actual Program offered in 2013, as Programs are still in the final planning stages.

Updated: July 26, 2012

Preview Meetings

Coastline offers you the opportunity to attend a "get the scoop meeting" or "preview meeting," where you may meet the faculty conducting Study Abroad programs, ask questions, and meet other students who may also go overseas. While we would prefer that you attend at least one preview meeting in regard to the program in which you're interested, attendance is not mandatory. Friends and family members of interested students are also welcome!

Coastline Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.